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About
Santee Cooper Country |
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About
Santee Cooper Country |
Carol Vandyke, ERA Wilder Realty Agent
Santee
Cooper Country Recreation
Lake
Marion and Lake Moultrie Fishing & Hunting
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Online Information Call Direct: Mobile - 843 412 3576 or 803 492 7671 If no answer, please leave message. Let me know that you are contacting me from the NC-SC Web Portal or please ....... E-mail Me: carol@nc-sc.com or Thanks, Carol Vandyke, ERA Wilder Realty Agent
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The Santee Cooper
Lakes
About the Lakes
The Santee Cooper
lake system consists of two lakes, Marion 110,600 acres and Moultrie 60,400
acres. These two lakes are joined by the 6.5 mile diversion canal. These
world-class fishing lakes were created from 1939 to 1942 for a hydroelectric
project by the South Carolina Public Service Authority, commonly known
as "Santee Cooper" because of the two river systems the project connected.
The lakes vary from shallow swamps and blackwater ponds to vast open water with a multitude of underwater structures. Lake Marion was not completely cleared, as a result fishermen will find there are thousands of stumps, standing dead tree trunk and live cypress trees. Lake Moultrie is more open and is 14 miles across at its widest point.You are not land locked in Santee Cooper Country. Visitors can travel from Lake Marion through the Diversion Canal to Lake Moultrie. At the end of Lake Moultrie lies the 75-foot high Pinopolis Lock which will lower boaters down to the Tailrace Canal which takes you to the Cooper River and on to Charleston. The trip from the confluence of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers to Charleston Harbor is 162 miles.
The lake system is a nature lovers paradise. The outdoor enthusiast can camp at one of our 29 campgrounds or on a pristine island, take a tour boat or guided fishing trip, canoe the backwater swamps or hike trails through our state parks. Listen...nature is calling you!
The Santee Cooper Lakes
Things to Do - Places to VisitSantee Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
Contact UsSantee National Wildlife Refuge
Hwy 301/15 - Exit 102 off I-95 North Santee
Telephone: (803) 478-2217 Fax: (803) 478-2314
Days & Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Sunday 8A.M. to4P.M.
Accessible to Handicapped: Yes
Admission Charge: No
This is paradise for bird watchers. A myriad of wildlife species inhabit the varied landscape of Santee. During the winter months, the threatened bald eagle and occasionally the endangered peregrine falcon, can be seen. From November through February migrating waterfowl such as mallards, pintails, teal and wood ducks along with Canada geese are a major attraction. Throughout the year red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks can be viewed. Trails are open for wildlife observation, photography and hiking. Wading birds, song birds and wintering migratory waterfowl may be observed from he observation tower along the Wright's Bluff Nature Trail. The Visitors Center contains a number of displays describing refuge wildlife and habitats. It provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to become acquainted with the refuge before venturing out. This is highly recommended, especially for the first time visitor.For the history buff, Ft. Watson located atop the Santee Indian Mound, is the sight of a significant Revolutionary War battle.
Santee Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
Contact UsSantee State Park
Exit 98 off I-95
Travel West 6 miles
Hours Year-round: M-Su 6am-10pm
Santee Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
Contact UsLinks
Palmetto Trail
Telephone: 1-800-227-8510
In SC dial - (803) 854-2131
Email:For those that really love to hike or bike try the Palmetto Trail. Six passages of the trail run right through Santee Cooper Country from the coast just north of Awendaw to Manchester Forest in Sumter County. The passages are; Swamp Fox, Lake Moultrie, Eutaw Springs, Santee, Lake Marion, and High Hills of Santee. The Palmetto Trail will eventually go all the way to North Carolina. Along the trail, at designated spots, primitive camping is allowed. Fisheagle Tours
Fisheagle Tours - Lake & Swamp Tour
Santee State Park
Telephone: (803) 854-4005 1-800-967-7739
Days & Hours of Operation:
Accessible to Handicapped: Yes
Admission Charge: $13 adults, $12 seniors ages 60 and above, $8 children ages 3-11 yrs.Departs from Santee State Park in Santee for approximately two hours. The Fisheagle travels up Lake Marion to one of the cypress swamps that has become a wildlife haven since it was flooded during the Santee Cooper
Project.Santee Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
Contact UsOrangeburg National Fish Hatchery
427 Lakeview St., Orangeburg (south)
Telephone: (803) 534-4828 Fax: (803) 54-4917
Days & Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 9A.M. to 3:30 P.M.
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Admission Charge: NoThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operates the hatchery which produces a number of species, including striped bass, red drum, blue catfish, channel catfish and redbreast sunfish. The Hatchery also produces Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon for stocking lakes and streams throughout the southeast. Visitors are welcomed and group tours may be arranged.
Santee Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
Contact UsEdisto Memorial Gardens
Riverside Drive, Orangeburg (off Hwy 301)
Telephone: (803) 533-6020 Fax: (803) 533-6027
Days & Hours of Operation: Always
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Admission Charge: NoThe Edisto Memorial Gardens combines great natural beauty and fun activities to make the Gardens a must see for visitors.In the mid 1920's, the first azaleas were planted on a five acre plot. In 1947, greenhouses and nursery facilities were added to the Gardens Operation. The Rose Garden was added in January 1951 to extend the season of beauty, and today, the Edisto memorial Gardens is composed of 150 acres of azaleas, camellias, roses and other flowers spaced among giant oaks and century old cypress trees. Always on display in the garden is some 4,000 plants, representing at least 75 labeled varieties of roses. The Gardens also contain one of only 23 official test gardens in the United States sanctioned by All-America Rose Selections, Inc.
Horne Wetlands Park
Riverside Drive, Orangeburg (off Hwy 301)
Telephone:(803) 533-6020 Fax: (803) 533-6027
Days & Hours of Operation: Always open
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Admission Charge: NoPocotaligo moves through miles of concealed silent swamps, wild and shrouded in secrets since the days of the Indians, its wildlife sequestered. A glimpse into its murky magnificence is from a board walk trail. The half mile boardwalk allows visitors to see native trees such as black gum, bald cypress, water tupelo, bay, willow, oak and red maple. Wildlife includes wood ducks, songbirds, amphibians and an occasional glimpse of a reptile or two.In July 1992, a major new theme was added to the Edisto Memorial Gardens with the establishment of the Horne Wetlands Park. This 2,600 ft. boardwalk takes the visitor into a Tupelo/Cypress wetland that lies between the the Display Gardens and the North fork of the Edisto River. The boardwalk, which is fully handicap accessible, permits visitors to get an up close look at the plant life and the wildlife of a wetlands area as well as the Edisto River. The Park features a boat dock with a gazebo. Santee Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
Contact UsPocotaligo Swamp Park & Trail
Located on Hwy 301 just 1.6 miles north of Manning
Clarendon County Recreation Dept., PO Box 486, Manning, SC 29102
Telephone: (803) 435-2683 Fax: (803) 435-8258
Hours & Days of Operation - Always open
Accessible to Handicapped: Yes
Admission Charge: None
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Audubon
Center & Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest
336 Sanctuary Rd.,
Harleyville, SC 29448
Off I-26 Exit 177
through Harleyville and follow the signs
Telephone: (843)
462-2150 Fax: (843) 462-2713
Email:
Days & Hours
of Operation: 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Tuesday through Sunday.
Closed Thanksgiving,
December 24, 25, 31 and New Year's Day.
Accessible to Handicapped:
Yes
Admission Charge:
Adult $5.00, Child $2.50
Audubon Life Members
free.
Canoe trips, night
walks and other activities available in season and by reservation.
Beidler Forest is the largest virgin cypress-tupelo swamp forest in the world. This 6,000 acres riverine sanctuary in the heart of Four Holes Swamp, embraces 1,800 acres of ancient trees that tower over blackwater streams, clear pools and 300 species of wildlife. A 1 3/4 mile long boardwalk, with nine rest stops and two rain shelters, takes visitors into the heart of the old-growth cypress-tupelo swamp.The forest is left totally alone - no attempt is made to lure wildlife to the boardwalk, no animal feeding takes place, no plantings are made, no fallen trees are removed. Here is a swamp as nature intended it to be. The swamp forest is home to 44 species of mammals, 140 species of birds, 39 species of fish, 50 species of reptiles, 40 species of amphibian and various creatures.
Bayless
Fish Hatchery and St. Stephen Fish Lift
305 Black Oak Rd.,
Bonneau, SC 29431
Telephone: (843)
825-3387 Fax: (843) 825-3382
Email:
Days & Hours
of Operation:
Mid-March through
mid-May - 7A.M. to 7 P.M.
Other dates and
times for groups are available by appointment.
Accessible to Handicapped:
Yes
Admission Charge:
Adult n/a, Child n/a
In the spring, adult striped bass are captured in the canal just below the St. Stephen Dam using electrofishing devices that momentarily stun the fish, but do not kill them. Crews quickly move the fish to the hatchery for spawning. Over 25 million viable eggs are produced each year. Visitors can watch the capture of adult fish and view this spawning process, which generally take place from the middle of March to the middle of May.Guided or self guided tours of the fish lift facility includes an underwater window to view fish as they pass into the Santee Cooper lakes on their annual migration. Species include American shad, blueback herring, striped bass and others.
Cooper River
Underwater Heritage Trail
Diving sites are
located in the Cooper River from the Strawberry trestle to Mepkin Abbey.
Telephone: (803)
854-2131 (Santee Cooper Country) to receive a brochure & map
The underwater history trail includes: the Strawberry Revolutionary War shipwreck, dating to 1781; the Strawberry Ferry landing, established in 1705; the Pimlico sailing vessel, a large ship that was apparently intended for offshore operation rather than on inland waterways; the Pimlico barge, from the 19th century; the Mepkin Plantation boat; and the Mepkin dock structure, a former plantation wharf.
Cypress
Gardens
3030 Cypress Gardens
Rd., Moncks Corner, SC
From Moncks Corner
take Hwy. 52 east
Telephone: (843)
553-0515 Fax: (843) 569-0644
Email:
Days & Hours
of Operation:
Daily 9A.M. to 5
P.M. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and the month of January.
Accessible to Handicapped:
Yes
Admission Charge:
Adult $7, Child $3, Senior Citizen $6
Group Rate $5/person
for groups or 15 or more
Cypress Gardens is a 170 plus acre swamp-garden rich in natural beauty and fascinating history. Originally it was part of a prosperous rice plantation. Guest can wander garden paths, that are actually dikes from the rice growing era when these waters were impounded to flood the rice fields.Visitors can explore the swamp from the unique vantage point of bateaus (flat bottom boats.) Guides are available to paddle and discuss the Gardens on week-ends and during the spring season. Guest can paddle and explore on their own.
Cypress Gardens is home to numerous wildlife species from the mighty alligator to tiny mosquito fish. All types of birds can be seen nesting in the spring and summer. In the Butterfly House native species thrive amid the abundant flowering plants that supply nectar or larval food. Also in the house is an observation bee hive, anthropod exhibit, and a pond which is home to turtles, fish and "Woody" the duck.
The Aquarium Building houses many animals from the swamp that visitors might not see in the wild. They are displayed in various tanks holding a total of 24,000 gallons of water. The freshwater fish and turtles are native to the area. Terrariums are home to native venomous snakes, as well as other reptiles and amphibians, giving the visitor an opportunity to observe these animals in a safe and educational environment.
Fisheagle
Tours
Pinopolis Boat
Lock & Cooper River Tour
Dock Restaurant,
Moncks Corner 29461
Telephone: (803)
854-4005 1-800-967-7739
Days & Hours
of Operation: Call
Accessible to Handicapped:
Yes
Admission Charge:
$18 adults, $16 seniors ages 60 and above, $10 children ages 3-11 yrs.
Departs from the Dock Restaurant in Moncks Corner for approximately two and a half hours. On this tour the boat travels up and through the 75' high Lock (weather permitting) then returns to go down river and travel alongside the remains of plantation rice fields.
Santee
Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
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Us
M & M Farms
1859 Hoover Rd.,
Huger 29450
Telephone: (843)
336-4886
Days & Hours
of Operation: 10am to 6pm daily
Cost: $25 per person
- 90 minute ride
Horseback trail riding in the Francis Marion National Forest. Gentle, well kept horses. Beginners welcomed. Also, lessons, wagon tours, picnic area, pony rides, camp for children and birthday parties.
Old
Santee Canal Park
900 Stony Landing
Rd., Moncks Corner, SC
From Moncks Corner
take Hwy. 52 east
Telephone: (843)
899-5200 Fax: (843) 899-5377
Contact
Us Direct
Days & Hours
of Operation: Daily 9A.M. to 5 P.M.
Accessible to Handicapped:
Most areas
Admission Charge:
Adult $3, Child under 7 free, Senior Citizen $2
Group Rate $2/person
for groups or 15 or more
Hike for miles on boardwalks and trails, rent our canoes or bring your own and meander through Biggin Creek & Swamp where America's first canal was built. The canal, which began operating in 1800, was considered one of the crowning engineering achievement and economic development projects of its day. While wandering through the the swamp, look for osprey building their nest or tending their young and see gators sunning on the banks.The Interpretive Center includes an unusual limestone cave, a three-eights scale model of the Little David, displays of wildlife and a 30-foot live oak tree that towers to the ceiling of the center.
An elliptical depression, Woods Bay is one of a series of natural phenomena known as Carolina Bays. The main concentration of these depressions occurs in the coastal plains of the Carolinas. Woods Bay offers a variety of natural habitats in which many species of wildlife can be found. Visitors to the 1,541 acre state park can enjoy a boardwalk and a canoe trail extending into the bay.
Other facilities and activities include; picnic area and shelter, canoe rentals and nature programs.
Edisto River
Access off Hwy 301
Telephone: (803)
533-6020 Fax: (803) 533-6027
Days & Hours
of Operation: Always Open
Handicapped Accessible:
Some sections
Admission Charge:
No
The Edisto river runs over 200 miles, which makes it the longest blackwater river in the world. The entire river runs through eight counties, with the North fork going through Orangeburg county and the Edisto Memorial Gardens. The north fork is only passable by canoe and small motor boat and winds through some of the most scenic country you will ever see.
Santee Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
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Hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle & ATV trails. Pistol/rifle range. Hunting & fishing.
Santee
Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
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Us
Millcreek Park
155 Haynsworth St.,
Sumter, SC 29150
Telephone: (803)
436-2248 Fax: (803) 436-2400
email: recreation@sumter.net
Web site: n/a
Days & Hours
of Operation: By reservation only
Accessible to Handicapped:
Yes
Admission Charge:
Call for quotes
A great place for reunions, church outings, horse rides, etc. Rustic atmosphere with campsites, horse stables & trails, lake for fishing, bath house and a clubhouse with kitchen.
Poinsett
State Park
6660 Poinsett Park
Rd., Sumter, SC 29150
Telephone: (803)
494-8177 Fax: (803) 494-8177
Email
Days & Hours
of Operation: April through September 9 A.M. - 9 P.M.,
October through
March 9 A.M. - 6 P.M
Accessible to Handicapped:
Yes
Admission Charge:
Adult $1.50 Child under 15 free Senior Citizen Free
Poinsett State Park is located along the edge of the Wateree Swamp. As you enter the park, a distinct Upcountry impression is created by the hilly terrain, rich hardwood forest and mountain laurel, a plant usually found in the state's foothills. Spanish moss draped from trees gives the park a Lowcountry flavor.This 1,000-acre park, with its abundant resources, nature center and full-time naturalist, is an excellent laboratory for outdoor education. The park has 50 campsites, 4 cabins, nature & hiking trails, lake fishing, lake swimming, picnic area and shelters, fishing & pedal boat rentals.
Santee
Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
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Us
Swan Lake Iris
Gardens
West Liberty St.,
Sumter, SC 29150
Telephone: (803)
436-2640
Web site: tourism@ftc-i.net
Days & Hours
of Operation: Mon. - Sun. 8A.m. to dusk
Accessible to Handicapped:
Yes
Admission Charge:
No
150 acres of gardens featuring on o the most extensive plantings of Japanese Irises in the United States, 25 varieties blossom in an incredible rainbow of color. The garden is also home to all eight species of swans. Gathered from all over the world, these royalty of the waterfowl kingdom represent England, North America, south America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
These gardens are
also home to the annual Swan Lake Iris Festival which is held in May.
Santee
Cooper Country Real Estate Listings
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Us
One of the goals of the Santee Cooper project was to create a route for
inland navigation from Columbia to Charleston. The route is marked from the
point where the Santee River flows into Lake Marion to the lock at the
Pinopolis Dam. This 122 mile system provides a clearly defined waterway
through which boats can safely navigate the lakes.
The naviagation channel is clearly marked. Odd numbered, square, green
markers define the port (left) side of the channel, while even numbered,
triangular, red day markers define the starboard (right) side of the channel.
Steer between these markers when navigating the channel. When
encountering an oncoming boat steer to the right (starboard) side of the
channel. For safety, heed rock markers and all other navigation buoys. Please do not swim in the channel or tie off to the concrete poles that hold the channel markers.
The same submerged trees and sutmps that harbor the abundant marine life, giving these lakes legendary status for record game fish, pose a hazard to thc unfamiliar boater. Please use caution when navigating outside the marked channels.
A safe channel defined by red and green buoys crosses Lake Marion at Marker # 62 to the Taw Caw Creek area. A second channel runs east from the Taw Caw Creek area to the mouth of Potato and Wyboo creeks. Please call 803-761-7008 if you encounter any problems using the navigation system.
*Exert
from the Santee Cooper 2000 Visitors' Guide Online
| P.O. Box 326, Santee
SC 29142
Toll Free: 800 633-2183 • Fax: 803 854-3951 |
Call Direct and ask for Carol Vandyke: Mobile - 843 412 3576 or 803 492 7671 |
Carol Vandyke, ERA Wilder Realty Agent
2007 All Rights Reserved
